Low energy charge and high adenosine content in smooth muscle of human bladder in comparison with striated muscle

Summary This study determined the energy charge, adenosine and inosine content of human bladder smooth muscle in comparison with striated muscle of the same individual. Biopsies were obtained from 21 women who were subjected to urethrocystopexy because of urinary stress incontinence. We found that the ATP content of bladder smooth muscle was only about one-eighth of that of striated muscle. The energy charge of bladder smooth muscle was 0.78±0.13, which is low compared with striated muscle (0.92±0.02). The adenosine content of bladder smooth muscle was 6.7 times higher than striated muscle and the adenosine/ATP ratio was 1∶9 compared with 1∶450 for striated muscle. These findings were in accordance with our previous studies on uterine smooth muscle.